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I would love to join this challenge. I am so overwhelmed by retired stuff that I can't use in my workshops but still want to create with it, use it up and not just hoard it..I am guessing that it is acceptable for this challenge?
I am finding that being a small-time SU demo seems to cost me more than the discount saves me... and after nine years the rapidly increasing turnover of what is "current" has just about done me in.

Ina... I'm reading this on page one... I think its how you have your settings to display posts..

ETA: the way you see or change your's is you click on your name at the top of the screen where it is in orange... then on the left side scroll down till you see edit options... then scroll way down that page to forum posts there is a drop down box in the how many posts will show on a page the highest is 50...

This looks like a support group I need! Last year I lost my interest in crafting for about 6 months and neither made many cards nor spent much money. The buzz returned in early December so I was able to make a few Christmas cards plus birthday cards for the month (wonder why there are so many birthdays in December???) but unfortunately that has also meant I've ordered a lot of goodies online and am eagerly awaiting their arrival. I do have the money to pay for them so that isn't a worry but I think from January 1 I need to buy less and use more! As someone said, here in the UK we don't have multiple craft shops so I mostly buy at shows - I go to 5 a year so perhaps I'll restrict my buying to those AND think carefully before doing so.

The past two month I was in a bit of a crafting slump, so I started making and counting things right away. I have a montly kit habit that is about $100 a month and I'm working to earn my kits. I'm generous with my points and included +1 for using a never been inked item, and +1 for posting items or sets. I look forward to seeing my numbers grow.

Welcome, Mary, Fiona, and Debby! This is the second year I have done this and have ended the year in the red each year, but I have become much more aware of what I am spending and am making more cards. I think I may actually get into the black in 2013. This is a great forum for encouraging each other.

I promised to give a challenge this week, and this is the end of the week. This will be for the first week of January.
January 1,1913 was the birth date of Irina Roudakoff Belotelkin......you will all look bewildered! She came from Ukraine to New York and became a fashion designer and was an artist and champion fencer...even teaching fencing lessons to Amelia Earhart. She was a society hostess and enjoyed ballet and the opera. She was wellk read and cultured....a true renaissance woman! She died in 2009.
Our challenge is to make a card featuring fashion, ballet, or the opera! Don't forget to use the S2S13A when you upload your card.

Happy New Year (almost) ! I spent the last week doing a MAJOR Purge/Re-Org on my Stamp/Scrap/Office. I sold, gave, PIF'd and threw out a ton of stuff and now feel much more inspired.

I'm like many of you, I read the "cold turkey" thread and it was just like the word "diet" for me. The more I tried not to spend anything the worse I was. I think Balance or Moderation works much better. We did have a thread about budgeting and tracking and it went very well up until about August and then all interest was lost ... LOL! Probably something in the research on why people don't keep their New Year's Resolutions?

I kept track of spending last year, put all my craft purchase receipts in one box which really made me think carefully about spending. This year I'd like to take it a step further and if I buy something new, I want to move out something old so I don't get overwhelmed again.

I'll go back and read how you "credit" the items as I think that will really help too. I was inspired by the thread about not buying just to get free shipping or some free item, sad to say but I think that will save me money as well.

I read a study once that talked about people's spending habits. A financial officer of JC Penney's was quoted as saying something like, "People will make a change to their spending habits for approximately six weeks. Then they will resume their previous spending patterns whether or not their financial situation has changed."

So... I try to keep that in mind when I'm trying to learn new spending habits because it helps to know the natural progression people have.

I read a study once that talked about people's spending habits. A financial officer of JC Penney's was quoted as saying something like, "People will make a change to their spending habits for approximately six weeks. Then they will resume their previous spending patterns whether or not their financial situation has changed."

So... I try to keep that in mind when I'm trying to learn new spending habits because it helps to know the natural progression people have.

Good advice, Chautona.

After seeing how much I spent in 2012, I was shocked. The little stuff really adds up. I could have had half of a big medical bill paid off. This time around if I'm tempted to buy something I don't need, I'm going to put that money right into my savings account. Hopefully, that will last longer than a month or two.

Hello Ladies! Wow so many new people to welcome, I was counting but lost track! How exciting!

Yes, any new tips on how not to spend ( on anything for that matter! ) is always handy! I must admit the less time I have to "cruise" the web, the less I want to spend. It mostly restricts me to what I see before me in my SU catty! I and I try not to order until I can get hostess benefits, or there is a sale on.....yeah, that means I have just admitted to committing one of those sins!!! LOL.

I use to sell my cards so I would get ACTUAL money back to spend, now as i am not itis all virtual, -ie I don't really have it! -so I find that helps as after all,the bills really need to come first! In 2011 I made a lot of cards -for me-and while I have not made many in 2012 for many reasons, I find that making so many that year means that I can go into my space and whip one up fairly quickly. I don't know if you would really call it crafting, but it is using my stash and saving us money on the day. And of course DH loves that!

I think one of my goals for this year coming will be to use up all my kiwi kiss! After all the ink w ill go dry soon! I loved it so much I bought extra paper, wondered how i Could ever live without it. Of course pear pizzaz came out and I can't live without That! So I gotta dig all those old combination of colours out and use it up! Anyways, I think 6 greens is getting a bit much, at least for me. I am a sucker for greens and blues!

All for now, lovely to have time to drop in. DH went back to Canberra today so I am on my own with DS at MIL's place. Will be more to do and more therapy to do too. But DH helping has given me a partial break, which I totally needed.

Welcome Lela!
Last year I kept a diary of running costs and credits, but that didn't really tell me in the end how much I had actually spent....so this year I am getting a small ledger book. so that I can keep account in columns.
Stephanie, I have taken your advice and am setting my timer for 15 minutes and working at clearing away things. I'm still working on the dining room table, so haven't gotten too far yet, but I think it will work.

I am such a clutter bug that I have always paid myself a tiny amount for every 15 minutes I clean up. I don't know if it has helped me, as I am in the throws of a craft room overhaul. I guess we'll see how it works after my craft room is all put back together and reorganized. Maybe it will be better since I have been able to finally get my spending under control.

This thread is more about us becoming aware of how much spending we do and how many supplies and goodies we already have, and to encourage us to use what we have and also to organize ourselves (and our supplies). Even though my total shows I am in the black, I am actually ending the year in the red, as I just spent a fair bit of money when I was in Texas for 11 days. After all, Michael's had Christmas stamps for sale and Hobby Lobby had other stuff on sale, and on my way home, Buffalo Stamps and Stuff also had a sale on dies! Now I can't think of anything else I need (or want)!!

So, you've seen the Spring catalog and the SAB for Stampin' Up, right? The have 2 new fabrics plus papers I gotta have. LOL

I'll be around again next year. This finally worked for me this year. I guess I am slow to change. I have a craft room overhaul looming in my near future. I received a gift card to Lowe's and a certificate of guaranteed help from my step-Dad. He can fix/make just about anything. With my step-Dad and my hubby (who's will work on anything as long as he has guidance), my craft room will be shaping up soon. As we were leaving on Christmas Day, my Mom told me to start sketching out my new room design!

Go you! Start cruising the studio gallery, pinterest and if you have questions, just give me a shout. I've been through them all LOL

okay room is getting there, ended up shoving the last few baskets into the closet walk path because there is no other place for them. and I have found I *thought* I had 2 vintage suitcases full of vintage lace... and I do... but, the two empty faux Micheals cardboard suitcases are full of it too.

I think after I get to play again. ( which should be soon table is cleared off.) I need to sort through this lace, a lot of it was bought grab bag style because I seen something in the bag I liked... which means there is probably stuff I will never use in it. I'm thinking about adding a category to my etsy ( which is empty ) to let go of some of the vintage supplies I have collected. ( and or start getting it packed cute for the Mothers day booth) one or the other. I need to set aside a spot for things I don't want to keep either. but, its perfectly good stuff I've just out grown it. right now that's a pile on the floor to trip on.
all i have left to do is hubs is going to cut some boards to go across my newly cut in half paper rack because, he got me a big shot for Christmas and so I am going to take my bug and my other one to work and anyways the machine will have a place to park on top of the paper now. ( no more hauling a machine to the work space trying to make a spot bigger than 8 inches to hold it haha)
and I think I am going to get one more board for a second shelf in the closet to put all those baskets on.
and the stamp/ canning jar shelves need made.
so its close hopefully this weekend will be paint drip drying and things getting hung.

Since I have a 3-day weekend with no other plans (my favorite kind of weekend), I am giving my office/craft room a thorough cleaning today. I really do have to get it done before bedtime since I'm putting stuff on my bed to make room for me to work. I can't believe the stuff I have stashed on just one corner of the room. I will definitely pay myself for my time; I just haven't decided how much yet. Maybe enough to get me out of the red for this year. So it's time to turn the computer off and get back to work. I better move it into another room so I'm not tempted to let myself get distracted.

Go you! Start cruising the studio gallery, pinterest and if you have questions, just give me a shout. I've been through them all LOL

I've spent a bit of time on Pinterest as I have sloped ceiling on two sides of the room. The only wall with the full height (and I'm not real sure about that) is in a little alcove where I currently have shelving. The shelving is coming down because it is suspect, but will probably go back up but done properly this time. There isn't good light there, so it might be a good spot for storage, maybe paper. Other than that, I am dredging everything out right now, so I can get exact dimensions and then see how I can best use the furniture I have right now.

This sounds like fun! I didnt hardly spend at all last year but only because i didnt craft. Now that i'm trying to get back into it, i know i'll want to spend. How much do you guys normally pay yourself for different items and tasks? I dont want to overpay myself just so i have an excuse to shop, lol.

Welcome Lela!
Last year I kept a diary of running costs and credits, but that didn't really tell me in the end how much I had actually spent....so this year I am getting a small ledger book. so that I can keep account in columns.

Thanks! It was shocking for me to add up the receipts I put in the box... beware ... it adds up quickly. Like someone else said, it's all the little stuff.

I just want to make better choices! Looking forward to 2013 and lots of fun Scrap Pages and Cards

I have to re-shoot the jar /wall shelves... I shot them, then I touched up the paint...

yesterday we went by an furniture store that is closing and got a loveseat and a coffee table so hubs and watch the news when he gets home if I am finishing a card. ( because I usually beat him home by an hour every day)

this is a finished room over the garage that's 500 square feet and I moved all my stuff from where you see the tv on the wall to the other side/corner of the room and gained a larger closet too.

ETA you will notice I did not shoot the other end of the room which is where hubs hobbies hide.
this is a shared space.

I'm jealous, Stacy. Wonder if I could talk DH into building me aroom over the garage. I rather doubt it.

I finally got my room cleaned and reorganized. Hopefully, I'll be able to find where I put everything. It only took me 11.5 hours in the past 2 days to get it done. I paid myself nicely for doing it. It helped me end 2012 in the black. Starting with a clean slate for 2013. I have a spreadsheet on my laptop just so I can compare each year (also to remind me how much I spent last year).

Happy New Year to all! It's a cold, but wonderfully sunny day here in southwestern Ontario. The snow is so pretty. I'm determined to go skiing this week sometime. I guess today would have been a good day, but I am going out for a New Year's dinner at a friend's place and it's at 4 p.m.

Happy New Year! The snow stopped here so it's just cold. It's my last day of holiday vacation and I'm already in my Stamp/Scrap/Office scrapping. It will be crazy at work in a couple weeks so relaxing now is a good thing

I have to re-shoot the jar /wall shelves... I shot them, then I touched up the paint...

yesterday we went by an furniture store that is closing and got a loveseat and a coffee table so hubs and watch the news when he gets home if I am finishing a card. ( because I usually beat him home by an hour every day)

this is a finished room over the garage that's 500 square feet and I moved all my stuff from where you see the tv on the wall to the other side/corner of the room and gained a larger closet too.

Great space Stacy! So fun to have a dedicated craft space. I love mine. Yours looks super organized, which really helps when you are crafting.
Enjoy your space in 2013!
Sharon

I finally made a card today. It took me forever to get the pieces the way I wanted them, but once I made up my mind it took only 5 min. to put it together. And I put everything away before getting on the computer. After spending 2 days cleaning and reorganizing, I'm determined to keep ahead of the mess. Of course, this is only day one. I'm paying myself to clean up after every project so that should be a good incentive.

I have dusted this image more than once in the last 6 months... its an old first trying to get serious about coloring skin tones image... so, the hair is eh, but its cute so I didnt toss it and it became a card today because of Ina's challenge.

Stacy, I left love! As for what it's worth..........I pay my self $1.00 per card, + a dollar for a challenge met, +50 cents if I actually send it. If I sell a card, I pay myself the actual amount it sold for. This was probably a rhetorical question, as I'm sure you have set your amounts already. Thanks for stepping up to the challenge. I still have to make my card for this one.

Left love on your cards, ladies. Very nice start to the new year!
I'll have to catch this challenge later. I'll post pics tomorrow of my studio as is and you'll understand why LOL

Stacy, I LOVE your chars for organization. Great way to use vintage jars or recycle food jars. Will have to keep that in mind when we redo my shelving this spring.

If your studio looked anything like my room did, I understand completely. I was chastising myself the whole time I was cleaning. How could I let everything get out of control? I would love to add another 10 feet or so to my room.